"Forced marriage" wives urged to speak out
20 Jan 05
Campaign launched to overcome cultural taboo to seeking help
Asian women in Scotland having to endure a forced marriage have been urged to come forward to seek help.
A campaign was launched in Glasgow yesterday at a conference organised by Strathclyde Police, involving various groups dealing with those affected.
Hundreds living in this country are believed to have been made to marry against their will. Support groups such as the Meridian Project in Glasgow and the Incompatible Marriage Project in Edinburgh say that overcoming the cultural taboo against speaking out is crucial to tackling the problem.
Women often come seeking help on specific issues such as benefits, and it may only emerge later that they are suffering abuse in a forced marriage. Often they do not believe that they will be dealt with safely or in confidence.